Just one of the five events on the PGA Tour with “Invitational” status, has 121 Players with a 3-year exemption for the winner with T70 & ties making the cut. It’s been called six different names since 1994 – and next year it’s seven for the Charles Schwab Invitational.

The FORT WORTH Invitational (formerly The Crowne Plaza or Dean & Deluca Invitational) or simply THE COLONIAL has also been a victim of some weird scheduling - with the addition of golf in the 2016 Olympics and three Majors approaching more rapidly than winter - fuse that with the European Flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week - and the strength of the 10th oldest PGA TOUR event has been quite diminished. It’s not to say The Colonial is devoid of talent, it’s not. However, the depth of this field, it’s thinner than Jordan Spieth’s hairline.

This Texas two-step has also switched places with last week's Dallas-area sister event and next year The PGA Championship will be the after the Byron Nelson, but before Colonial. (tink Wells Fargo, Byron Nelson, PGA Championship then The Charles Schwab Invitational from Colonial). The fourth event of Adam Scott’s "Texas Slam" - after the Valero Texas Open from TPC San Antonio, Shell Houston Open (SHO) from Humble outside Houston, last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson from the Holy ‘Trinity’ and now the 71st time (since 1946) that Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth plays host to this Invitational.

THIS week we again honour Ben Hogan at Colonial CC - designed by Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus - it's also known as “Hogan’s Alley” after the legendary 5 times champion - with narrow fairways and dramatic dog-legs shaping this course from the tee, it goes down as a classic shot-maker's layout without question. Not to be confused with the 6th hole in Carn-nasty or Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades - The PGA Players voted this as one of their top 5 courses to play on TOUR. Only Ben Hogan has defended his title at Colonial. He did it twice. There’s not much wonder why this place has the nickname “Hogan’s Alley”. Course Architect in 1936 was Perry Maxwell – he was the driving force behind Augusta National after Alistair Mackenzie’s death and it’s not a coincidence that Scott and Zach are winners here and have also been 'green jacket' winners (and Sergio too !). Major Champions have also featured strongly in the winner’s circle here.

therhino 24 May 16......Best course of all the Texas venues which attracts a handy little field each year.Another Par 70 course with only two Par 5s - the 1st Hole and 11th hole. The course opens with a friendly Par 5 which is usually the easiest hole on the course.However that’s where the birdie chances also ends - then the fun starts - from hole 3 onwards, with a 247 yard Par 3 fourth hole and the extremely tough 481 yard 5th hole, likely to take back any shots that were gained earlier. It is a tight tree lined track with small greens, numerous doglegs, very well placed fairway bunkers and water in play on six holes. This is a real test of ball striking and driving accuracy is even more important this week. Course management in finding those small greens will also be crucial (within the Top 30 in GIR will be required) as will scrambling stats when the greens are missed. Strokes Gained Putting another important stat as those putts must drop. EXPERIENCE is a prerequisite for success at Colonial, other than the winners-only SBS Tournament of Champions and World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, no tournament that has existed as long at this Invitational has gone this long without a first-time winner. Garcia is its last, back in 2001.

As is the case for most Par 70 layouts, making the easy birdies on the Par 5s will be essential to collecting a novelty check, but Par 4 scoring becomes a far more important factor. Especially when you look at the length of the Par 4s. Seven of the 12 on course measure between 400-450 yards. Normally, that’s counterbalanced with some more difficult, lengthier Par 4s, but that’s not the case at Colonial. There are only three longer than 450 yards, leaving birdie making opportunities at No. 2 (389 yards) and No. 17 (387 yards), two of the easier holes on the course.

The field can also vault up the leaderboard if they’re dominant on Par 3s from 190-200 yards. Three of the four Par 3s fall in that specific range. Overall, any style can win at Colonial, but seeking out players who are particularly good from those key ranges will be the best way to predict a winner. Unless, they fall victim to the “Horrible Horseshoe,” that is. Holes 3-5 can cripple any player. NO ONE IS SAFE!!!!!!!!!!

Since 1983, the Horrible Horseshoe has played to a combined score-to-par total of +6,613 while the other 15 holes have played to -769. In 2015, Hole No. 3 was the second most difficult on the course (+0.124), No. 4 was fourth (+0.41), and No. 5 was the toughest (+0.263). For some context: 91 bogeys, 16 double bogeys, and 4 “others” were made at No. 5 against 29 birdies in 2016. And, of 11,802 rounds played at Colonial, just 1,623 of those rounds have played holes 3-5 under par. There are only 21 players to have a career relative to par score under par on the Horrible Horseshoe.CM iyc

COLONIAL CC 2018Just one of the five events on the PGA Tour with “Invitational” status, has 121 Players with a 3-year exemption for the winner with T70 & ties making the cut. It’s been called six different names since 1994 – and next year it

Course experience is something that generally matters here, as well. Looking at the last 12 winners, 11 of them had previously recorded a T15 before their win. Each of the last 12 winners had also played the event two or more times before collecting that jacket.

Course experience is something that generally matters here, as well. Looking at the last 12 winners, 11 of them had previously recorded a T15 before their win. Each of the last 12 winners had also played the event two or more times before collecting

keeping it uncomplicated this week with a 2 point e/w bet on Jordan Spieth, i know he has been a little dodgy recently but he hasnt been terrible just usually starting bad and leaving himself too much to do but playing ok towards the end and there is nothing like playing at a place you like and have good memories of to give you the spark needed to find that edge you are missing. So hoping he starts off well and kicks on from there.

keeping it uncomplicated this week with a 2 point e/w bet on Jordan Spieth, i know he has been a little dodgy recently but he hasnt been terrible just usually starting bad and leaving himself too much to do but playing ok towards the end and there is

can't disagree meng - signs are there he's about ready on a course where the last 3 years read 2nd,1st,2nd hard to look past

webb could give him a game if his putting carries weight, likes the course and judging on he handled the final day last week, aaron wise is a bet @ 70, only other i kinda like again signs orf form and a liking for the course is Duffers...

can't disagree meng - signs are there he's about ready on a course where the last 3 years read 2nd,1st,2nd hard to look pastwebb could give him a game if his putting carries weight, likes the course and judging on he handled the final day last week,

he did very well on these courses last year in the pga tour, this was one of the places he did best at. he'd never played them before so did extremely well for a rookie, now he's got the experience, I think he could kick on and contend very strongly. I mean if we recall last year he was up there pretty much every tournament, he has the consistency of a top player.

was also tempted by duffner and bryson dechambeau, problem is those guys aren't reliable down the stretch.

wouldn't put anyone off backing speith at all given that he's a longer price than last week on a more favourable venue for him, just think there are issues at the moment as I outlined in my previous post.

incidentally I think rahmbo is a future world number one.he did very well on these courses last year in the pga tour, this was one of the places he did best at. he'd never played them before so did extremely well for a rookie, now he's got the experi

got a little bit back with some each-way bet on rahm but overall another disappointing event. could well be the calm before the storm though as the majors are shaping up very nicely with players like rose, mcilroy, and that little known player called tiger woods roundly nicely into form

we could be looking at some classic events

got a little bit back with some each-way bet on rahm but overall another disappointing event. could well be the calm before the storm though as the majors are shaping up very nicely with players like rose, mcilroy, and that little known player called